Will not budge, say farmers as talks with state fail again

A team from ETV Bharat spent the entire night speaking with the farmers, who set up camps outside the mini secretariat and on the side of NH 44 nearby. Farmers, who are clear on their demands, were seen playing cards to relieve off the stress and sleeping on mattresses spread inside vehicles parked by the highway side.

Karnal (Haryana):The farmers, protesting against the three contentious farm laws, have said they will not budge unless the government withdrew the laws. On Tuesday, after the talks with the state failed yet again, the farmers intended to picket the mini secretariat. Though they were partially prevented by using water as farmers breached barricades, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of around 40 farmer unions, said the mini secretariat had been "gheraoed by tens of thousands of farmers".

A team from ETV Bharat spent the entire night speaking with the farmers, who set up camps outside the mini secretariat and on the side of NH 44 nearby. Farmers, who are clear on their demands, were seen playing cards to relieve off the stress and sleeping on mattresses spread inside vehicles parked by the highway side.

Sudheer Kumar, a young farmer from Haryana's Hissar, said the farmers will ensure that the government withdraws the three laws, until which we (farmers) will continue to put up a brave fight. He accused the police, deployed to maintain law and order situation at Karnal, as goondas alleging that they beat up the protesting farmers.

"India runs because of the farmers. India is the only agriculture-dominated country and the government should understand this. We will not budge," he added.

Sudheer Rathiram, an elderly farmer, said the government was doing unjust to them. However, he said, the farmers were spirited enough to take the fight to its logical conclusion.